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Polypropylene films employing recycled commercially used polypropylene based films and labels

a polypropylene film and commercially used technology, applied in the direction of identification means, instruments, seals, etc., can solve the problems of biaxial oriented polypropylene film coated with chlorine-containing polymer, copolymer generally are (is) quite expensive to recycle, etc., to achieve enhanced sustainability life cycle and reduce material cost

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-05-31
APPLIED EXTRUSION TECH INC HEREINAFTER AET
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] The benefits of utilizing post used OPP film based flexible packaging and labels as recycled materials which are part of the composition of a newly produced OPP film are numerous. It is envisioned that the overall economics for a process that utilizes recycled flexible packaging and labels would operate at a reduced material cost compared to utilization of all new materials. The other benefit to use of recycled OPP film based flexible packaging and labels as part of the composition of newly produced OPP films are the environmental benefits from a recycle perspective and enhanced sustainability life cycle.

Problems solved by technology

The use of a biaxially oriented polypropylene film coated with a chlorine-containing polymer, such as polyvinylidene chloride homopolymer and / or copolymer generally are (is) quite expensive to recycle, requiring that the chlorine-containing polymer first be separated from the polyolefin.
However, a number of the above identified commercial films and labels include a variety of additives, including printing inks that would tend to impart an undesired gray visual appearance to films into which such commercial films and labels are recycled.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

b 3 Layer Coextrusion

[0029] In a representative embodiment of this invention, a three layer opaque film was produced by a typical biaxial orientation tenter process, which is well known. This example includes a core layer comprising 68%, by weight, of a mini random copolymer of polypropylene including 0.6% ethylene; 22%, by weight, of a batch formulation including 62.5% calcium carbonate, 29.4% polypropylene homopolymer and 7.5% titanium dioxide and 10%, by weight, of printed, recycled labels collected as scrap from a label printing and lamination process. This OPP film based label scrap was formed into extruded pellets that were introduced into the barrel of the extruder employed to form the core layer of this example. The recycled pellets also contain 3% ML 1803 manufactured by ML Plastics, which is utilized as a process aid for effective extrusion of printed labels into extruded pellets.

[0030] A description of the recycled label extrusion process is detailed as Example 5.

[0031...

line example 3

Two Ply Lamination

[0040] In another representative embodiment of this invention, film from Example 1 was used to produce a two film component lamination structure in combination with AET's 400 WHSL three layer OPP coextruded film. In this example, film from Example 1 was laminated to the non print / non white side of the 400 WHSL film to produce a two film component lamination structure. In this example, one of the outer coextruded layers consists of white pigmented formulations from Example 1 and one white layer is from the 400 WHSL film. The 400 WHSL film is designated as being laminated to the “IN” side of the lamination structure.

[0041] AET's 400 WHSL film is a three layer coextruded film with a voided core and a white pigmented print skin. This product is approximately 125 gauge thick, has a yield of 40,000 in2 / lb, a density of 0.55, a Tappi opacity of 84 and a whiteness index of 86.

[0042] The lamination step is carried out by employing any suitable adhesive, such as an acryli...

example 4

Three Ply Lamination

[0043] In another representative embodiment of this invention, a film from Example 1 was used to produce a three film component lamination structure with two of AET's 400 WHSL three layer OPP coextruded films. In this Example, 400 WHSL was laminated to each side of Example 1 to produce a three film component lamination structure. In this example, both outer coextruded layers consist of white pigmented formulations from the 400 WHSL film. The lamination step is carried out by employing any suitable adhesive, such as an acrylic-based adhesive; such adhesives being well known to those skilled in the art. Thus, in the above-described laminated structure the outer skin layers both include 10% titanium dioxide as the whitening agent to mask the otherwise gray appearance that would be imparted to the film by the recycled label stock.

Table of Lamination data for Examples 3 & 4Example 3Example 4Thickness (approximate gauge)420540Yield (in2 / lb)10,6808,155Density (gm / cc)...

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Abstract

A multilayer film includes a core layer having recycled, commercially used plastic therein and opposed skin layers, at least one of said opposed skin layers including a whitening agent or other pigmenting agent therein to mask any undesired coloration created by the recycled plastic. Laminations employing the above multilayer film also form part of this invention. A method of this invention for making a multilayer film including a core layer with recycled plastic therein includes the steps of: separating a plastic film or label from a package of commercial product; pelletizing the plastic film or label into pellets for introduction into an extruder of a film forming device and introducing the pelletized plastic film or label into said extruder for introducing the recycled plastic film or label pellets into a core layer of a multilayer film.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This utility patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 727726, filed Oct. 18, 2005, entitled “Polypropylene Films Employing Recycled Commercially Used Polypropylene Based Films and Labels.”BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates generally to employing recycled, commercially used polypropylene-based material in polypropylene films and more specifically to the use of commercially used flexible packaging and labels as the recycled material employed in polypropylene-based films. BACKGROUND ART [0003] It is known to recycle waste material generated in a film-forming extrusion process back into the extruder to thereby effectively use the scrap material in the formation of extruded polypropylene film. For example, scrap material generated in the film-forming process has been introduced into the extruder in a conventional tenter line to thereby incorporate the scrap into the core layer of a multilaye...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B32B27/32B32B27/18
CPCB29B17/02B29C47/0021B29C47/02B29C47/043B29C47/065B29K2023/12B29K2105/0032B29K2105/256B29L2009/00B29L2009/005B29L2031/744B32B27/08B32B27/32G09F3/10B29C48/15B29C48/08B29C48/17B29C48/21Y10T428/31504Y10T428/31938Y02W30/62Y02W30/80B32B2307/41B32B2553/00B32B2367/00B32B2305/70B32B2519/00B32B37/153B32B27/18B32B2307/514
Inventor HOSTETTER, BARRYWELCH, PHILIP
Owner APPLIED EXTRUSION TECH INC HEREINAFTER AET